The Becker Report
Volume II, Issue VIII
January 28, 2007

Published by:
John Becker
Republican State Central Committeeman
Ohio's 14th Senate District
Clermont, Brown, Adams, Scioto, and Lawrence Counties
513-753-6440
www.BeckerGOP.com
mailto:John@BeckerGOP.com
www.BeckerGOP.com/TheBeckerReport.htm

Distribution:
Tim Rudd, Clermont County GOP Chairman
Paul Hall, Brown County GOP Chairman
Harty Wallingford, Adams County GOP Chairman
Rodney Barnett, Scioto County GOP Chairman
Ray “Moose” Dutey, Lawrence County GOP Chairman

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News from Columbus
McNulty resigns!
Ohio Republican Party Executive Director Chris McNulty has accepted a position as a Regional Political Director for the Republican National Committee.
Chris has been a great asset to the ORP and will be missed.
I wish him the best in his new position.

Bennett will not run for re-election in 2009!
Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett announced that he will not seek re-election in 2009.
He also proposed creating the position of Deputy Chairman.
"This person would work closely with me over the course of my final term in order to learn the ins and outs of the Chairmanship," said Bennett.
The person chosen to be Deputy Chairman will be slated to become Chairman in 2009.

Candidates for the Deputy Chairman position:
Dave Johnson has dropped out of the running.
Dale Fellows and Curt Braden are the only candidates that have contacted me.
It has also come to my attention that Kevin DeWine is interested in the position.

As always, I'm interested in reader feedback regarding these candidates.

Editorial Page
From neighboring Hamilton County:
As far as Mr. Bennett is concerned -- I do not blame him for the state of politics in Ohio or in Hamilton County. Republican voters are accountable for continuing to elect or appoint unappealing candidates. Our own infighting has contributed to the state we are in today (nationally, statewide, and county). We turned on our own (rightly or not). Having said this, I do believe that Mr. Bennett should not continue as state party chair and George Vincent should not continue as Hamilton County chair. While it is not their fault for the poor choices we had in November, their failure to "rally the troops" and provide solid grass roots support for GOP candidates proves they are not particularly solid leaders. We have a chance to start over and I can only hope that the GOP state leadership understands this and will begin to help mend the rifts statewide. I will do all I can to assist in this effort locally.

From someplace between Dayton and Xenia:
John, I agree with your readers who don't put all the blame on Chairman Bennett, although he is certainly on the short list of those responsible. Others include Speakers Householder and Husted, and Senate Presidents Finan, White and Harris, to name a few. (Maybe the list isn't all that short after all). In any case, the majority of the blame belongs to Republican voters who for years believed the propaganda spewing from GOP insiders, and then voted for the "anointed ones" in the primary. The only way the Party will recover is to help the voters sort out the best qualified candidates who are sincere when they raise their right hand, place their left hand on the Bible and swear to uphold their oath of office to protect and defend the US and Ohio state constitutions. That is the critical starting point. I don't know who said it, but it's certainly appropriate here -- "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." I think standing up for those values in the Constitution is the only way for the GOP to recover. That may be overly optimistic for 2007, but giving it a try couldn't be any worse than the "GOP Massacre of 2006."

Past Events
January 19, 2007
Phil Heimlich hosted a fundraiser for Family First PAC at his home in Loveland.
A very large number of people attended the event which included catering and valet parking.
It was a pleasure to chat with two of my colleagues from Clermont County: Jean Schmidt and Joe Uecker.

January 17, 2007
At the Clermont County Central Committee meeting, Chairman Rudd announced that John Kasich will be our Lincoln Day Dinner keynote speaker.
A special phone number has been set up for reservations: 513-739-1070
Mr. Rudd also explained that corporate donations could be accepted for building rent and other expenses not directly associated with campaigns.
It was also a pleasure to see ORP Field Representative Patrick Foltyn at the meeting.

January 12, 2007
The major event at the Republican State Central Committee meeting was the re-election of officers.
The Columbus Dispatch reported the following:
"Bennett was re-elected by voice vote, with only John Becker, a central committee member from Clermont County, dissenting. He said friction between Republican leaders in his county and the state party compelled him to vote against Bennett."
During Executive Session, Chairman Bennett officially informed us that this will be his final term as Chairman, and proposed the election of a Deputy Chairman who will serve alongside him for the next two years in an effort to create a smooth and effective transition. We will vote on the matter at the March meeting in Columbus.
Jon Husted was our lunchtime speaker.
The audience included two of my colleagues on the Clermont County Central Committee: Connie Bare and Thea Shoemake.

January 9, 2007
The Lincoln Day Dinner was the primary topic for discussion at the Brown County Republican Club meeting.
Following the club meeting, the central committee met to approve funding for a law suit to prevent a court from ordering voters to reveal how they voted.
By a 2 to 1 margin, the committee recommended that I vote against ORP Chairman Bennett's re-election.
Nearly 25 people attended the meeting including Peter Schmidt from Clermont County.

January 2, 2007
Nearly 25 people attended the Union Twp (Clermont County) Central Committee meeting to discuss fundraising options and avenues for public outreach.
Judge Brock also attended to thank the committee for helping him get the appointment.
The committee also made it clear to me, under no uncertain terms, that they expect me to vote "NO" on ORP Chairman Bennett's re-election.
After some discussion, they helped me to understand that the 143 people at the November 29th meeting in Batavia demanded that I vote "NO". One member who sat silently in the far back corner of HQ that night said, "From the back of the room, to the front of the room, the word 'NO' reverberated throughout. You should definitely vote 'NO' on Chairman Bennett."
Silence was the response when I asked if anyone in the room had a different opinion. 

Future Events
January 30, 2007
Clermont County Republican Club reorganization meeting at 7:00 pm in Batavia

January 30, 2007
Scioto County Republican Club meeting at the New Boston Community Center

February 2, 2007
Chip Gerhardt will be hosting a happy hour at McFadden's from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm
RSVP to Amber Lawson 513-579-6400

February 3, 2007
Southern Ohio GOP Chairman's Association meeting
For Chairman only and in Piketon

February 3, 2007
Hamilton County Lincoln-Reagan Dinner at 6:00 pm at the Westin Hotel for $80
Keynote speaker: Tony Snow
Contact Don Robinson 513-283-3096

February 13, 2007
Brown County Republican Club meeting at the library in Georgetown at 7:00 pm

February 13, 2007
Scioto County Central Committee meeting and GOP Club pie auction in New Boston at 7:00 pm

February 16, 2007
Clermont County Lincoln Day Dinner at the Eastgate Holiday Inn for $50
Keynote speaker: John Kasich
Social at 6:00 pm and dinner at 7:00 pm
RSVP by February 2, 2007 by calling 739-1070

February 17, 2007
Adams County Lincoln Day Dinner at Peebles High School for $20
Social at 6:00 pm and dinner at 7:00 pm
Keynote Speaker: Jean Schmidt
RSVP to Stephen Caraway 937-544-4338 by February 14, 2007

February 24, 2007
Brown County Lincoln Day Dinner for $25 or $35 at the door
RSVP by February 17th

February 28, 2007
2007 Good Scout Award Luncheon from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Cincinnati Convention Center
Keynote Speaker: Jim Koch, The Boston Beer Company

March 5, 2007
Union Twp (Clermont County) Central Committee meeting at the Civic Center at 7:30 pm

March 9, 2007
GOP State Central Committee meeting in Columbus at 9:00 am

March 13, 2007
Scioto County Central Committee meeting in New Boston at 7:00 pm

March 21, 2007
Clermont County Central Committee meeting at 7:00 in Batavia

March 26, 2007
Scioto County Lincoln Day Dinner at the Friends Center in Portsmouth at 6:00 pm
Contact Kay Reynolds, Rodney Barnett or a Central Committee Member for tickets.

March 27, 2007
CCV's Annual Banquet at the Cintas Center at 6:30 pm
Keynote Speaker: Tony Snow

April 10, 2007
Scioto County Central Committee meeting in New Boston at 7:00 pm

April 7, 2007
Southern Ohio GOP Chairman's Association meeting

April 18, 2007
Clermont County Central Committee meeting at 7:00 in Batavia

April 20, 2007
GOP State Central Committee meeting in Columbus at 9:00 am

May 8, 2007
Scioto County Central Committee meeting in New Boston at 7:00 pm

May 29, 2007
CCV's 20th Annual Celebrity Golf Classic at the Heritage Club in Mason

June 2, 2007
Southern Ohio GOP Chairman's Association meeting

September 28, 2007
GOP State Central Committee meeting in Columbus at 9:00 am

November 30, 2007
GOP State Central Committee meeting in Columbus at 9:00 am